Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus.
Author
Wilson, E. O.
text
2003
Harvard University Press
Cambridge, MA
http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu/HymOnline/reference-full.html?id=20017
book
20017
Pheidole arboricola
new species
Types INBio.
etymology L
arboricola
, tree-dwelling, alluding to the arboricolous nests of the species.
Diagnosis A very small species, close to
amazonica
,
mackayi
,
minutula
, and especially
quercicola
, distinguished in the major from these species by its subangulate (as opposed to lobate) humerus in dorsal-oblique view, rounded lateral borders of the postpetiole, and bicolorous head.
Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.76, HL 0.84, SL 0.40, EL 0.06, PW 0.40. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.46, SL 0.40, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.
color Major: head capsule anterior to eyes, along with a fuzzy circular spot in the middle of the capsule dorsum, light brown. Waist and gaster also light brown; rest of body and appendages dark yellow. Minor: body medium brown, tarsi yellow, rest of appendages light brown.
Range Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica, up to 500 meters elevation.
Biology John T. Longino (1997) reports
arboricola
as a resident of moist mature and second-growth forest, nesting in the hollow branches and under the dead bark variously of Bauhinia, Cecropia, Stryphnodendron, and other trees.
Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo (J. T. Longino). Scale bars = 1 mm.